Alice Harris

Alice Christiansen Harris, 72, died on February 6, 2017 at the University of Utah Medical Center after battling lymphoma, vasculitis, and a series of strokes.

She was born December 6, 1944 in Payson, Utah to Norma Evans and Wesley Christiansen. She spent her early childhood sharing adventures in Nephi with her older siblings Janice, Dick, and Larry as they tried to fly off the top of hay bales, flatten pennies on the railroad tracks, and play in the barn at Granny Alice's. Her father died in World War II and when her mother remarried Edison Harkins, the family moved to New Jersey.

After high school, Alice went on to study at Indiana University. She was recruited to go to Harvard University on scholarship to study Arabic. After an offer by the National Security Agency to study on scholarship at the University of Tehran, Alice decided she wanted to modify her studies in a direction that would allow her to stay in the states and raise a family. She moved back to Utah and studied speech pathology at Brigham Young University and later earned a master's degree at the University of Utah. Although she hung her red University of Utah flag with the most pride, she flew a blue BYU flag by its side on rival game days.

Alice loved working with children as a speech pathologist and was known for making them smile. While working for the Davis school district, she would run across the street on her lunch hour to help a little girl struggling with speech. Alice was unaware that the girl's cousin, Stanford Don Harris, often watched from a neighboring window trying to get up the courage to meet her. After a "chance" meeting, the two were head over heels and married in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 21, 1970. They raised their four children in Layton, Pleasant Grove, and Nephi.

Alice spent her life bringing joy to anyone lucky enough to know her. She accepted everyone for who they were and encouraged them to be their best. Her many nieces and nephews have fond memories of her stopping by to take them skiing, to the park, or on an adventure to visit Granny Alice and Aunt Norma in Nephi. Her children relish memories of sledding, building wooden boats to float down the stream, water fights, pinecone wars, and late nights talking. Alice enjoyed exploring the red rocks of Snow Canyon with her husband and sister and having fun with her grandchildren. Known for her smile, curiosity, and sense of adventure, her family is grateful for the many happy memories she made with them over the years.

Alice is survived by her husband, Stanford Don Harris; children Tonya (Anthony Todd Fischio), Justin (Kristine), Trisha (Michael Moore), and Curtis (Elizabeth); sister, Janice Parkin; brother, Richard Christiansen; and 14 grandchildren: Analyse, Sofia, Sicily, Livia, Brooklynn, Tyler (Josie), Alyssa, Whitney, Lydia, MyKenna, Clayton, Sayge, Eddie, and Ellie.

Funeral services will be held Friday, February 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Anderson Funeral Home, 94 West 300 North, Nephi, Utah. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Vine Bluff Cemetery in Nephi.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Primary Children's Hospital.